What were doing on January 28th, 1986 when the the Space Shuttle Challenger exploded on takeoff?

2014-03-12T14:11:34-04:00

I was  sitting around the table at the DFAC tonight here at Camp Arifjan Kuwait when the topic of the Space Shuttle Challenger came up.  I had to laugh when one of the guys told me he wasn't even born yet.  I was a Senior in High School in DeLand Florida at the time.  I went outside and could see the smoke trails from where the Challenger had come apart.  What is your memory of the event?

Response by SSG Jason Hoadley made Mar 12 at 2014 2:15 PM

2014-03-12T14:15:52-04:00

I was in the 4th grade.
We were watching it on CCTV in class, talking about the importance of the Teacher that was on that mission. Right after the shuttle exploded the teacher ran to the TV and shut it off..
A few hours later the School Counselor talked to the entire school and they sent home a letter for the parents.

Response by SSG Ralph Watkins made Mar 12 at 2014 4:55 PM

2014-03-12T16:55:19-04:00

I was on a SERE course with the 9th Division Long Range Surveillance Company at Ft. Lewis waiting for a bird to pick up me & my team.  The bird showed up 2 hours late is all I knew.  They finally shuttled us to another part of the training area & nothing was said.  We got out of the field about 4 days later & people were already telling terrible jokes that we had no idea what they meant.  When I called home to PA, I found out then.

Response by SFC Michael Hasbun made Mar 12 at 2014 5:02 PM

2014-03-12T17:02:39-04:00

I was four, so I imagine I was finger painting or something similar..

Response by Maj Chris Nelson made Mar 12 at 2014 5:13 PM

2014-03-12T17:13:14-04:00

Junior in HS.  Don't remember exactly which class, but think I was goofing off.....

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 12 at 2014 6:43 PM

2014-03-12T18:43:11-04:00

I was a Junior in HS and waiting to change classes when our U.S. History class was told about the Challenger disaster. At first I though it was some sick joke, but when I got home and turned om the TV, there is was on all of the three network channels (Yes, I didn't have cable). I just couldn't believe it. <br>

Response by LT Jessica Kellogg made Mar 12 at 2014 6:54 PM

2014-03-12T18:54:23-04:00

I wasn't born....<div><br></div><div>But I do remember the Colombia disaster. I was at Girl Scout camp and fascinated with the manned space flight program. </div>

Response by SSG Robert Burns made Mar 12 at 2014 11:46 PM

2014-03-12T23:46:50-04:00

We were pulled over on the side of the road watching the launch like everyone does on the east coast of Florida.  I can remember everyone standing there when it exploded and we had no idea what had happened for several minutes.  Everyone was just like, Okkkk?  what was that?  Once we realized what happened everyone began sobbing.  It was terrible.  <div>The launches were always something special growing up in that area.  To realize all of those people, those hero's to us had just blown up was quite devastating.  My mother was hired at Nasa the very next day.</div>

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 12 at 2014 11:47 PM

2014-03-12T23:47:49-04:00

It was my senior year in high school and it was a bitterly cold day in Georgia.  My mother kept me home from school and I saw the disaster on TV a few seconds after I woke up.

Response by 1LT Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 13 at 2014 12:25 AM

2014-03-13T00:25:59-04:00

I was a guest observer at the launch, listening to cap com and eng nets, throwing up, and on the phone to iTek to expedite the frame by frame enhancement of tracking camera footage.

By the evening, the iTek enhancement showed solid rocket booster burn through (hot propellant exhaust through the skin of the booster). But, it took much longer time for Feynman Committee to determine the problem originated from thermal expansion and contraction damage to the key O-Ring seals between the solid rocket motor segments.

Note dark grey smoke from SRB on ground and bright secondary plume from SRB in flight.

This was a devastating personal loss for NASA, survivors, contractors, and the nation.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 13 at 2014 12:58 AM

2014-03-13T00:58:05-04:00

375 days before I was born. I remember the Columbia well though.The graphic eyewitness stories of "debri" falling from the sky are something that I'll never forget.<br>

Response by GySgt Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 13 at 2014 2:12 AM

2014-03-13T02:12:44-04:00

I was in a womb.  

Response by SSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 13 at 2014 2:39 AM

2014-03-13T02:39:14-04:00

I was in NY after getting out and at a friend's house.   One of the saddest days in the NASA program.